Why Mayo, UnitedHealth Research Lab Won’t Be Based in Minnesota

By Logan Lafferty

Mayo Clinic and UnitedHealth Group Inc.are two of Minnesota’s biggest health care brands. So why aren’t the two juggernauts setting up their new joint research venture, Optum Labs, in their home state?...Officials also thought setting up shop elsewhere would send the message that the research organization is open to everyone and not just groups based in Minnesota. "We want to attract folks from all across the health care landscape, and doing this in a location that is neutral instead of where our company headquarters [are] sends a signal that it’s something for everybody to use," he said in an interview. "It’s not something set up to be proprietary."